For Chairman’s Circle investor Charles Elliott, the path from Memphis’s historic Klondike neighborhood to the helm of Blue Suede Networks has been one shaped by resilience, purpose and deep community ties. “I was born in Memphis, raised in Klondike,” Elliott says with pride. He’s a graduate of Central High School, a community cornerstone where he began to understand both the challenges and opportunities that come with growing up in Memphis.
Elliott went on to earn a BA in applied physics from Morehouse College and later an MBA from Clark Atlanta University. But he didn’t stop there. His appetite for knowledge led him to complete the Minority Enterprise Business program at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and to the cusp of earning a Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary.
“I’m an inveterate learner,” he reflects, his journey marked by a commitment to education and growth.
His earliest years were spent in Frayser, a community that helped spark his aspirations. Through initiatives like the CLUE program and INROADS, Elliott found inspiration and the tools to shape a meaningful career. “INROADS changed everything for me,” he recalls, describing his first job with BellSouth, a role that introduced him to technology and financial independence. “I earned more money in one summer than my mother—a dedicated social worker—earned in a year. It showed me technology was not only a path for me, but also a way to build the life I wanted for my future family.”
Elliott’s career has been both impactful and varied. Before joining Blue Suede Networks as CEO in 2023, he held roles as
managing principal of National Infrastructure Group, vice president of information technology and administrative services at LeMoyne-Owen College and director of service operations at Memphis Networx. Now, leading Blue Suede Networks, Elliott is focused on one of the city’s most ambitious digital projects yet: creating a connected Memphis.
“Memphis is at an inflection point,” he shares with a tone of optimism. “We’re seeing companies think of Memphis differently, and they’re choosing to invest here—not just in our economy, but in our people.” For Elliott, the potential for digital infrastructure is tied directly to economic growth. “Data from the Federal Reserve, Deloitte, and the World Bank shows that a 10 percent increase in broadband penetration can drive up to 1.5 percent GDP growth and increase jobs by 20 percent.”
Blue Suede Networks’ goal? To help Memphis become a national leader in digital inclusion and opportunity. With one of the city’s largest private investments to date, they’re
partnering with the City of Memphis to pass fiber infrastructure to at least 85 percent of all business and residential properties, ensuring low-income communities are equally served.
“We’re a Memphis-based company through and through,” Elliott said, emphasizing that the company is not only building infrastructure, but also nurturing local partnerships. In collaboration with the Mid-South Minority Business Council Continuum, the Black Business Association of Memphis, Allworld, ProTec and the Greater Memphis Chamber, Blue Suede Networks has established relationships with Memphis-based MWBE businesses, guaranteeing their involvement in the fiber project.
The work is complex, requiring tenacity, but Elliott finds purpose in its challenges. Outside his role as CEO, he has served as pastor at Golden United Methodist Church for nearly two decades. “Building this network and shepherding my congregation are two sides of the same coin,” he said. “It’s all about service to others and creating a stronger, more connected Memphis.”
Yet for Elliott, family remains at the heart of everything he does. “My greatest joy is my family,” he said, reflecting on his 28 years of marriage to Tammy, four children and the support they provide. They are, as he puts it, “the reason I do what I do.”
In every role he’s held, in every community he’s served, Elliott’s mission is clear: a connected Memphis, built on opportunity, inclusion and hope for the future.
engineering physics from John Carroll University, specializing in electrical engineering through cross studies at Case Western Reserve University. He also earned a master’s in electrical engineering from Penn State University. HICO is a leader as a domestic producer of large power transformers, and Jason has been a key part of expanding HICO’s presence in North America. HICO has more than 400 employees in Memphis and more than 120 employees in Pittsburgh, in addition to employees across the U.S. and Canada. HICO is working to expand its capacity in Memphis and plans to manufacture other solutions the company offers. So why did a company with a world-class facility in South Korea choose to build a manufacturing facility in Memphis? “Many of us at HICO have been at our company a long time, and it was a key vision to establish a manufacturing operation in the U.S.,” said Jason. “For many years we imported equipment and solutions from South Korea. That is a world-class facility, but our partners in the U.S. wanted operations in America. In 2017 we decided to build a factory in the U.S., and a facility in Memphis became available. We acquired it on Valentine’s Day 2020. It was a milestone for our business in the U.S., truly a dream come true for all of us. “Memphis is a perfect location, central to our customers across the U.S. The rail and over-the-road access to transportation in Memphis is unmatched. But most of all we are blessed with the talented employees we have at our plant, the leaders and managers we have in Memphis, the quality of the work of our team and the products we produce day after day.” The company doesn’t just manufacture in Memphis – employees are also active supporters of the community. Hyosong HICO supports the St. Jude Memphis Marathon and Concord Academy. The company works with the Chamber to engage with schools, including hosting a Manufacturing Day at the plant earlier this month. They hire interns from colleges in Memphis and across the country. What excites Jason most about Memphis? “It’s a great location for our business, but most importantly, it is the people in Memphis. The quality of the education and the welcoming atmosphere in the community translate into our operation in Memphis. We have grown from 120 employees to more than 400 today, with plans to expand to more than 600 in the coming years. HICO is a great atmosphere to learn and work. We have a solid business model that gives all employees a voice to contribute to the direction of our company. We share together in our successes, and we face challenges together and overcome them. “It is also organizations like the Greater Memphis Chamber and the Chairman’s Circle in particular that give our company the opportunity to contribute to growth in Memphis. Our acquisition of the Memphis plant remains the single most important decision our company has made in the U.S. Our growth in Memphis is contributing to the success and expansion not only of our company, but also the industry overall.” Jason and his wife Melanie just celebrated their 25th anniversary. They have two children, Sarah and Samuel, who both attend the University of Dayton. Jason’s parents instilled a strong work ethic, and “the example of their relationship influenced my life in many ways. My father spent his entire career in the utility industry. When I entered college, I saw the utility industry as a little static, maybe not as exciting…. But I was wrong! My decision to join this industry in 2001 was the best decision I made. We have become the ‘cool industry.’ We are at the forefront of technology development.” Jason enjoys golf, vacationing near the ocean with his family and playing basketball and sand volleyball. Because of all the time spent watching with his kids, he can spout lots of quotes from the movie Cars. But his favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption, because he said it shows the importance of relationships and the ability to work together to overcome obstacles. Asked if he had anything else to add, he said, “We’ve been a proud member of the Chairman’s Circle since 2022. We look forward to more opportunities to support the Chamber and to engage with other companies in the area. We are especially proud to be here in Memphis!”
As Corporate Champion, Bill is encouraging other business leaders to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by forming corporate teams to raise money and participate in the weekend’s marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K or 2-Race Challenge. In addition to raising money for St. Jude, marathon weekend contributes to the local economy and generated $43 million for Memphis’s retail, transportation and hospitality industries in 2023. The St. Jude Memphis Marathon is the largest single-day fundraiser for St. Jude. This year’s marathon will be Dec. 7 and is expected to bring 22,000 runners and walkers to Memphis, along with thousands of volunteers and spectators from around the globe. This year’s goal is to raise $16 million during the marathon weekend. The 
As Corporate Champion for St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, I am honored to lead the charge to raise funds and awareness for the kids and families at St. Jude. Supporting St. Jude has always been my passion, and I’m elated to expand our impact by uniting more business leaders behind this mission. What is the mission of the organization or project? St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, known for its pioneering research and treatments, aims to raise $16 million during the 2024 marathon weekend. What is your history with this organization? I have long supported St. Jude individually as a St. Jude Hero and through Varsity Brands programs such as Team Up for St. Jude and Spirited by Varsity. Why is this project or the work of this organization important to our community? In addition to raising funds for St. Jude, marathon weekend has generated millions for the Greater Memphis economy. What is your goal with this involvement? Since 2011, Varsity Brands has been all-in on supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s incredible mission of treating and defeating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Thanks to our collective efforts, we’ve raised more than $13 million (and counting!) to help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. Are you involved with other community organizations? What is your role with those organizations? In addition to my role as president of Varsity Spirit, I also founded Crosscheck Athletics, one of the largest nonprofit youth sports organizations in the greater Memphis area. I chair the board of the Leadership Empowerment Center in Frayser, sit on the board of Memphis Gridiron Ministries in Binghamton, serve on the board of governors for New Memphis and am in the process of launching a nonprofit specifically designed to drive youth engagement in Memphis. If you’re interested in sharing the story about your community involvement outside the office in the Chairman’s Circle newsletter, email